1. John Mattscheck, Holly George, Kathleen Eldridge, PhD & Hannah Parmelee, MS
Pepperdine University
INTRODUCTION METHODS
IMPLICATIONS & DISCUSSION
RESULTS
REFERENCES
ABSTRACT
This study examined the
association between
friendship quality and
current physical, emotional
and spiritual health, and
investigated how much
relationship beliefs and
skills predict friendship
quality.
Significant, positive
correlations were found
between friendship quality
and each of the health
domains.
Results of the regression
analysis indicated that
relationship skills and
beliefs significantly predict
friendship quality (i.e. the
regression model is a good
fit of the data). Friendship
skills and beliefs accounted
for 8.5% of the variance in
friendship quality.
RQ#1: Associations between Friendship
Quality and Health
• Significant correlations at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)
were found between friendship quality and each of
the health domains
• Data was collected from a survey administered by
Relationship IQ (rIQ; Parmelee, 2014), a university-
affiliated psychoeducational program designed for
emerging adults.
• The self-report surveys were distributed to freshmen
entering Pepperdine University for three consecutive
years (2011, 2012, & 2013).
• n = 1,880; mean age 18.01 (SD=.956) years old,
62.3% female, 37.7% male
• Students reported quality of friendships, current health
in multiple domains, and relationship skills on Likert
scale items.
• Relationship beliefs were reported on a true/ false
scale and scored based on empirically-supported
healthy relationship beliefs.
• Pearson’s correlations were conducted to determine
the association between friendship quality and
physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
• Multiple regression analysis was used to examine how
relationship beliefs and skills predict friendship quality
(n=1707).
• Promoting strong relationship skills and healthy relationship
beliefs among emerging adults may facilitate better quality
friendships and improved health during this developmental
phase.
• Although correlations were on the weaker side, results
indicated as friendship quality improves, health in the three
domains also improves.
• Relationship skills and beliefs, despite accounting for a
small percentage of the variance, do predict better quality
friendships.
• Given the importance of friendship quality during emerging
adulthood, future research should expand assessment of
friendship-related skills and beliefs to determine those most
closely associated with better outcomes.
• Friendships become more important for
emerging adults as they enter into college
(Arnett, 2004).
• As students leave their family of origin to
attend college or university, there is greater
reliance on friendships to provide support
(Arnett, 2004).
• Research suggests that friendships are
important in sustaining feelings of self-
worth, camaraderie and intimacy (Barry,
Madsen, Nelson, Carroll, & Badger, 2009).
• Minimal research has examined the
connection between quality of friendships
during emerging adulthood and health,
despite the greater dependence on
friendships during this time.
• In addition, there is limited literature on
correlates of friendship quality, such as
relationship beliefs and skills.
• Therefore, this study sought to examine the
association between friendship quality and
current physical, emotional and spiritual
health, and investigate how relationship
beliefs and skills predict friendship quality.
• It is hypothesized that:
1. Better friendship quality is associated
with better physical, emotional, and
spiritual health
2. Relationship beliefs and skills predict
friendship quality
Arnett, J. (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. New York: Oxford University Press.
Barry, C. M., Madsen, S. D., Nelson, L. J., Carroll, J. S., & Badger, S. (2009). Friendship and romantic relationship qualities in emerging
adulthood: Differential associations with identity development and achieved adulthood criteria. Journal of Adult Development, 16(4),
209-222. doi:10.1007/s10804-009-9067-x
Parmelee, H. (2014). Relationship IQ Leader’s Manual. Malibu: Pepperdine University.
RQ#2: Relationship Beliefs and Skills
Predicting Friendship Quality
• 3 Relationship Beliefs items pertaining to friendships
were summed
• 5 Relationship Skills questions pertaining to
friendships were summed
• Regression results indicated that the overall model,
consisting of relationship beliefs and skills,
significantly predicts friendship quality.
• R2=0.087, R2
adj= 0.085, F(2, 1704)= 80.704,
p < 0.01
• The overall regression model accounts for 8.5% of
variance in friendship quality.
Associations Between Health, Emerging Adults’ Relationship
Beliefs, and Friendship Quality
Predictor
Variables
B Std. Error Beta t Sig.
Friendship
Skills
0.065 0.005 0.285 12.325 0.000
Friendship
Beliefs
-0.089 0.026 -0.079 -3.425 0.001
Physical Health
(n=1,840)
r= .209 p < 0.01
Emotional Health
(n=1,836)
r= .267 p < 0.01
Spiritual Health
(n=1,836)
r= .163 p < 0.01
CONTACT
John D. Mattscheck
M.A. Clinical Psychology Student
Pepperdine University
Graduate Sch of Educ and Psych
jdmattsc@pepperdine.edu